Back   Do's and Don'ts of Gardening © Copyright 2003-2007 Dr. Krisjan M. Gustavson. Please ask permission to reproduce. 1. Warm up with light movement or a brisk walk to loosen your muscles and increase your flexibility. The smooth coordination of your muscles and ligaments is an important part of safe exertion in gardening and other activities. 2. Know your strengths and limitations. Do not overexert, vary your activities, and take regular rest breaks. 3. Avoid bending over repeatedly while standing upright when performing ground-level work like weeding. Get down closer to the task by kneeling or sitting on the ground or a gardening bench, rather than bending and twisting from the waist. 4. Keep your back protected when you stand up from a sitting or crouching position. Rise up by straightening your legs at the knees, not by lifting your torso at the waist. 5. Lift dirt and plants by letting your arms, legs and thighs carry the load: bend and straighten at the knees instead of the hack and hips. Lift the load close to the body's torso and center of gravity, and handle smaller, more manageable loads at a time. 6. Use long-handled tools to give your leverage and help you avid having to stoop while raking, digging, pushing, or mowing. 7. Switch hands frequently when doing prolonged raking, hoeing or digging actions. Repetitive motion on one side can bring on progressively serious joints imbalances and may produce postural misalignments and pain, including muscle spasms in the neck, shoulder and lower back. 8. Don't work too long in one position, especially one that is awkward or unusual. This can reduce circulation, restrict mobility, and promote strain injuries. 9. Carry objects close to your body. Keeping the load close to your center of gravity reduces the risk of straining you neck and back. 10. Don't overexpose yourself to long periods in the sun. Utilize protective measures for your head and skin, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks 11. Most importantly, if you notice any "twinges" come in for a spinal tune-up   Back
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